Collapsible tube dispenser



May 7, 1963 E. T. HICKEY COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER Filed July 26, 1961I N VEN TOR. 621/420 75 0/14? /V/a Uite Srtes atet ice 3,088,632COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER Edward Thomas Hickey, 243 W. Foxdale Drive,Milwaukee, Wis. Filed July 26, 1961, Ser. No. 126,926 3 Claims. (Cl.222-400) This invention relates to a device for dispensing the contentsof a collapsible tube of viscous material such as tooth paste or thelike, and more particularly to a manually operable roller for expressingthe tube contents in cooperation with a resilient snap-on member whichmay also afford a stand for the tube.

Heretofore, various tube collapsing devices have been available whichhave included rollers and compression means, but such devices have ingeneral geen unwieldly and cumbersome or have required attachment to awall surface or the like. The present invention affords an extremelysimple and compact construction which does not need to be connected to asupport surface and in fact provides a means of supporting a tube ofmaterial such as tooth paste or the like in a display position and whichextrudes the contents of the tube with minimal effort. Thus the deviceincludes a spool which is slotted axially and radially, 'with the innerportion of the slot being enlarged for the reception of the end of thecollapsible tube. The spool may be of a sufficient length to accommodatethe tubes of a variety of widths and after insertion of a closed end ofthe tube in the slot, a resilient member is slipped over the spool sothat a segmental cylindrical portion thereof closely engages the spoolfor a major portion of the spool periphery to effect retention thereon.The free end of the resilient member is formed in an 8- loop, in asuitable embodiment of the invention, so that hand pressure may beapplied thereagainst to collapse the lower end of the tube. As thecontents of the tube are dispensed, the spool is turned by means ofknurled ends thereon to engage a fresh portion of the lower end of thetube, and this procedure may be continued until the entire contents ofthe tube have been dispensed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acollapsible tube dispenser that will support the tube in a vertical orstanding position for storage and ready access, or so that the printedmatter thereon may be displayed for a long period of time foradvertising purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapisible tubedispenser that can be held and operated with one hand and which has aknurled knob or hand grip on opposite ends of the spool or roller, forpositioning the tube to receive the pressure applied by hand to aresilient member or spring plate so as to dispense the contents of thetube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tubedispenser as described which will accommodate a variety of tube sizeswithout adjustment of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tubedispenser which affords removal of the collapsed tube withoutnecessitating dismantling of the device, since the tube may simply beslid axially out of the spool or roller.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tubedispenser having only two parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tubedispenser that is portable with the tube secured in place therein.

7 A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tubedispenser that affords a closely controlled extrusion of the contents ofthe tube.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tubedispenser as described which may be used With tubes containing a widevariety of types of material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which FIGURE1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention in operativerelation to a tube from which material is to be dispensed;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the device of the invention insupporting relation to a collapsible tube;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section as takenalong the lines IIIIII of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, of anotherembodiment of the device of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a dispensing device 10 is shown inFIGURES 1 through 3 in operative relation to a collapsible tube 11containing a viscous material 12 such as tooth paste, although any of awide variety of materials of paste-like or semifluid consistency may bedispensed by means of the invention. The tube 11 may be of anyconventional type, such as a tube formed of flexible metal, plastic orother sheet material. Thus the tube may have a cap 13 threadedly orotherwise releasably secured to a nozzle 14 for ready removal as desiredto place the tube in condition for dispensing the material 12. And, asalso understood by those skilled in the art, the tube may have a bottomseam 15 which may constitute a fold suitably sealed to close off thefree end of the tube and which in general will have a thickness somewhatgreater than the thickness of the tube in its collapsed or emptycondition.

The device 10 constitutes a dispenser for the collapsible tube 11, orfor any of a variety of tubes of varying dimensions, and includes aspool or roller 16 which may be made of any suitable material, exemplaryof which are plastics of cast or molded type, wood, metal, preferably ofa light weight characteristic, or other materials. In accordance withthe invention, one or both ends of the spool 16 have secured thereto,either integrally or by suitable connecting means, a knurled hand grip17.

The knurled hand grips 17 are preferably of generally circular crosssectional configuration and are of a diameter somewhat greater than thediameter of the spool 16. However, it will be appreciated thatvariations in this particular construction may be encompassed within thescope of the invention, and, for example, the hand grips may be reducedrelative to the diameter of the spool 16, and other means for manuallyapplying torque to the spool 16 may be utilized within the scope of theinvention, as hereinafter set forth. The spool 16 has formed therein apreferably radially aligned slot 18 of a width sufiicient to accommodatethe marginal end portions of the tube, and preferably approaching thewidth of the tube in its collapsed condition. The slot 18 may extendinwardly into the spool 16. for a distance which is preferably less thanthe radius of the spool, and the innermost portion of the slot isenlarged as shown at 19 to accommodate the seam or closure 15 on the endof a tube such as the tube 1'1.

In order to permit assembly and disassembly of the tube with respect tothe spool 16 without complicated manipulation and separation of theparts of the device 10, the slot 18 preferably extends axially for thefull axial dimension of the spool 16 and also through one or both of thehand grips 17. Thereby, the enlarged portion 15 at the free end of thetube may be inserted in the enlarged slot portion 19 from one side orthe other as desired of the roller structure, and thereupon slidablymoved to a center position with respect to the spool 16, as shown inFIGURE 2. A further advantage of this construction resides in the factthat the spool 16 is of a suflicient axial dimension to accommodatetubes of a Wide range of dimension, so that there is no need formanufacturing a separate size of the device of the inven' tion for eachsize of tube.

In accordance with the invention, a resilient member 20 is providedwhich serves the dual function of cooperating with the spool 16 inextruding materials from the tube 11, and of supporting the tube in avertical position so that little space is required for storage, incontrast to the space taken up by tubes which are placed horizontally.An important advantage is also found in the fact the tube is therebypositioned for effective display, so that the labeling and other indiciathereon may be readily observed. To this end, the resilient member 20includes a segmental cylindrical portion 21 which is preferably of adiameter approximating the diameter of the spool 16 or somewhat reducedrelative thereto, and a free end portion 22 which, in the embodiment ofFIGURES 1 through 3, is formed in an S-loop. g

It will thus be seen that the segmental cylindrical portion 21 affords asnap-on connection for the resilient member 20, and circumscribes an arewhich is substantially greater than 180 to afford a bearing for securerotary engagement with the said spool. The resilient member 20 may beconstructed of spring metal, or suitable material, and the S-shaped loop22 includes a flat or slightly curved applicator or cam portion 23 whichmay extend substantially tangentially from the segmental cylindricalportion 21 in a planar or slightly convexly bowed configuration. Therelatively planar or fiat portion 23 forms an applicator or cam surface,as hereinafter described, and preferably extends outwardly from thesegmental cylindrical portion 21 a substantial distance such that thereversely turned portion 24 of the S-shaped loop 22 is disposed inprotruding relation to the tube in the assembled condition of thedevice. The S-shaped loop 22 also defines a return reach 25 extendinggenerally in the direction of the segmental cylindrical portion 21 andin spaced relation to the planar portion 23, and a preferably segmentalspherical portion which is reversely turned respect to the turn 24. Asbest seen in FIGURE 3, the terminal area of the recess-providingsegmental cylindrical portion 21 at one side of the entrance into therecess and the portion 23 at the opposite side of the recess afford notonly generally convergent lead-in surfaces facilitating snap-on movementof the spool 16 into the recess by spreading apart of the portions 21and 23 by resilient deflection, but also afford generally confrontingsurfaces between which the inserted portion of the tube 1 1 is engagedto facilitate squeezing the tube to force the tube contents from thenozzle 14 by moving the port-ion toward the opposing surface, generallyas depicted in FIGURE 1. r

It will thus be seen that the S-shaped loop provides a means of exertingpressure on the tube such that the contents at the bottom are thoroughlyexpressed and a gradually widening opening between the spool 16 and thesurface 23 is afforded for the materials thus squeezed from the bottom.

The end loop portion 26 is disposed in register with the loop portion 21and thereby affords a stable base for the tube such as to maintain it ina substantially vertical position as shown. It will, of course, beappreciated that variations of the particular construction of the loopportion 26 will be encompassed within the scope of the mvention.

'Ihe resilient member 20 is easily formed since it is of a sheet metalor other spring metal construction and can be readily bent to thedesired configuration by conventional techniques requiring minimaloutlay for equipment and labor.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, another embodiment of the invention is seenwherein the roller construction is substantially identical to theconstruction shown in FIGURES 1 through 3 and the resilient, member 20ais formed of a plastic material rather than a resilient metal. In thisconstruction, the segmental cylindrical portion 21a and the registeredsegmental cylindrical portion 26a are substantially identical, in apreferred form, to that shown in the preceding embodiment except thatthe outwardly extending free end portion may be made as a solid leverconstruction 27. This formation makes casting or molding of theresilient member easy to accomplish, although it will be understood thata sheet form construction may be utilized also within the scope of theinvention. A further advantage of the solid construction of the portion27 resides in the fact that a secure and stable relation between thesegmental portions 21a and 26a is thereby afforded.

Thus it will be seen that a snap-on assembly is provided which requiresonly two parts, and in operation the tube 11 may be slid into the spool16 as described and the resilient member 20, or 20a, thereupon snappedinto position where it may support the tube in vertical align: ment sothat it may be picked up readily for use or utilized in a display foradvertising purposes. Once the cap 13 of the tube v11 has been removed,the material, such as tooth paste or the like, may be dispensed bysimply pressing the extension portion of the resilient member 20 asdescribed and as indicated in FIGURE 1, it being understood that thismay be accomplished in a variety of Ways as is most convenient to theuser. When the tube has become sufficientlyemptied by the squeezingoperation, a further supply of material may be expressed by rotating thespool 16 by means of the knurled hand grips 17, and it will therefore beappreciated that the dispensing of the material may be accomplished withone or either hand as desired. And because of the slot construction inthe spool, the collapsed tube may be removed without dismantling thedevice. The tube dispenser of the invention may be transported with thetube in place and also affords a highly convenient and desirableassembly with the tube for sales purposes. t

Accordingly, there has been provided a tube dispenser of unusualsimplicity and ease of operation, and which may be used with a widevariety of sizes of tubes as well as with tubes containing many types ofmaterial. There is, therefore, a broad range of application for thedispenser in addition to the particular use referred to.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respectto certain specific principles and details thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thehereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispenser for supporting in generally upright relation to ahorizontal surface a collapsible filled tube having a closed lower endand a nozzle at the opposite upper end from which material contents areto be discharged by squeezing pressure applied to the tube,

said dispenser comprising a spool having manipulating means on at leastone end thereof and means intermediate its ends for engaging the closedend of the tube, and a resiliently flexible member supporting the .spoolrotatably and including:

a spool bearing portion affording with the spool therein a supportingbase structure engageable with said horizontal surface,

said bearing portion having upper opposed generally convergently relatedend portions defining therebetween an upward entry opening through whichthe closed end of the tube is received,

said end portions being spaced apart substantially less than the normalthickness of the filled tube and providing confronting surfaces whichengage the respective opposite sides of the tube,

one of said end portions projecting a substantial distance beyond theother of said end portions in 5 6 supporting relation to its side of thetube and above said supporting base part and above said bearing having asupporting base part projecting downportion comprises a solid leverconstruction. wardly opposite to its tube-engaging surface for 3. Adispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said one engaging thehorizontal surface spaced from the end portion of the member extendsdiagonally upwardly bearing portion so as to provide with said base 5substantially tangentially to said bearing portion and said structure astable upright base support for the upward entry opening is located overthe tangential meetdispenser and tube, ing of the bearing portion andsaid one end portion and said one end portion being resiliently manuallyeccentric to the spool aXis.

flexibly movable toward the confronting tubeengaging Surface of theother end Portion to 10 References Cited in the file of this patentsqueeze the engaged walls of the tube toward one another and therebyforce material from the UNITED STATES PATENTS tube through the nozzle,2,089,004 Sch-wertner Aug. 3, 1937 said spool being rotatable for takingup the closed 2,883,087 Nichols Apr, 21, 1959 end portion of the tube asthe material is dis- 15 placed therefrom. FOREIGN PATENTS 2. A dispenseras defined in claim 1, wherein the upper 218,785 Switzerland APR 16, 4

free end portion of said one end portion of the member

1. A DISPENSER FOR SUPPORTING IN GENERALLY UPRIGHT RELATION TO AHORIZONTAL SURFACE A COLLAPSIBLE FILLED TUBE HAVING A CLOSED LOWER ENDAND A NOZZLE AT THE OPPOSITE UPPER END FROM WHICH MATERIAL CONTENTS ARETO BE DISCHARGED BY SQUEEZING PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE TUBE, SAIDDISPENSER COMPRISING A SPOOL HAVING MANIPULATING MEANS ON AT LEAST ONEEND THEREOF AND MEANS INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS FOR ENGAGING THE CLOSED ENDOF THE TUBE, AND A RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE MEMBER SUPPORTING THE SPOOLROTATABLY AND INCLUDING: A SPOOL BEARING PORTION AFFORDING WITH THESPOOL THEREIN A SUPPORTING BASE STRUCTURE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAIDHORIZONTAL SURFACE, SAID BEARING PORTION HAVING UPPER OPPOSED GENERALLYCONVERGENTLY RELATED END PORTIONS DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN UPWARD ENTRYOPENING THROUGH WHICH THE CLOSED END OF THE TUBE IS RECEIVED, SAID ENDPORTIONS BEING SPACED APART SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE NORMAL THICKNESSOF THE FILLED TUBE AND PROVIDING CONFRONTING SURFACES WHICH ENGEGE THERESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TUBE, ONE OF SAID END PORTIONSPROJECTING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYOND THE OTHER OF SAID END PORTIONSIN SUPPORTING RELATION TO ITS SIDE OF THE TUBE AND HAVING A SUPPORTINGBASE PART PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY OPPOSITE TO ITS TUBE-ENGAGING SURFACEFOR ENGAGING THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE SPACED FROM THE BEARING PORTION SOAS TO PROVIDE WITH SAID BASE STRUCTURE A STABLE UPRIGHT BASE SUPPORT FORTHE DISPENSER AND TUBE, SAID ONE END PORTION BEING RESILIENTLY MANUALLYFLEXIBLY MOVABLE TOWARD THE CONFRONTING TUBEENGAGING SURFACE OF THEOTHER END PORTION TO SQUEEZE THE ENGAGED WALLS OF THE TUBE TOWARD ONEANOTHER AND THEREBY FORCE MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE THROUGH THE NOZZLE,SAID SPOOL BEING ROTATABLE FOR TAKING UP THE CLOSED END PORTION OF THETUBE AS THE MATERIAL IS DISPLACED THEREFROM.